Mechanic tried porking me.

[AtTheDriveIn]

So I ended up re-buying my 1998 Explorer that had been in my family for 15 out of its 16 years in existence this weekend from the same guy I sold it to. I knew it needed wheel bearings so I dropped it off at a shop near my apartment complex today. Yeah well the "mechanic" tried telling me that my front brakes are non-existent and they need to be replaced so I was looking at $700 to replace the wheel bearings (He was going to replace the hub assembly with the bearing inside lol) and brakes...I guess he didn't know I have a subscription to alldata and I know from firsthand experience and alldata that it shouldn't take more than an hour and 1/2 to do both sides. And the brakes? C'mon, it's easy work.

So anyways I bought two wheel hub assemblies complete with bearings off of ebay for $32.00 and I'm just going to do it in my apartment parking lot. My question is this: For the life of me I cannot remember the size of the retainer nut. (I think it's a 32MM?) Does anyone know the size of that nut since I'm going to have to go out and buy a socket that fits it? Thanks!!

 

[crunchie_frog]

32 mm

 

[my98nnj]

You'll need a breaker bar to get the bolt lose on the hub.

 

[koda2000]

$32 for 2 front hub assemblies? i hope you don't think those are going to last very long. quality hub assemblies (like Timken) are over $100 each. not saying you need to spend that much to get decent service life, but $16 for a complete hub assembly (which says it includes free shipping to boot) has got to be junk. i'd be afraid my wheels would fall off.

 

[shadowless127]

So I ended up re-buying my 1998 Explorer that had been in my family for 15 out of its 16 years in existence this weekend from the same guy I sold it to. I knew it needed wheel bearings so I dropped it off at a shop near my apartment complex today. Yeah well the "mechanic" tried telling me that my front brakes are non-existent and they need to be replaced so I was looking at $700 to replace the wheel bearings (He was going to replace the hub assembly with the bearing inside lol) and brakes...I guess he didn't know I have a subscription to alldata and I know from firsthand experience and alldata that it shouldn't take more than an hour and 1/2 to do both sides. And the brakes? C'mon, it's easy work.

So anyways I bought two wheel hub assemblies complete with bearings off of ebay for $32.00 and I'm just going to do it in my apartment parking lot. My question is this: For the life of me I cannot remember the size of the retainer nut. (I think it's a 32MM?) Does anyone know the size of that nut since I'm going to have to go out and buy a socket that fits it? Thanks!!

Be prepared to replace one or both of those hubs in 12,000miles or less.

 

[kevinspann]

Plus, is it 2wd or 4wd? And hopefully the bolts aren't rusted in. Requires front brake removal, undoing the upper ball joint, and pulling the axles out of the knuckle.

 

[koda2000]

Plus, is it 2wd or 4wd? And hopefully the bolts aren't rusted in. Requires front brake removal, undoing the upper ball joint, and pulling the axles out of the knuckle.

since the OP is talking "hub assembly" i'm assuming it's 4wd/AWD. frankly i paid more than $32 for inner/outer bearings for a 2wd eariler this year.

i don't believe you need to undo the upper ball joint to change a hub assembly. just remove the axle nut, the brake rotor, ABS wire and the 3 bolts that hold the hub onto the knuckle. then the hub should just pull off the axle.

 

[JimMadsen]

$32?? I paid close to a hundred for one for a chevy lumina!

What brand are they? What kind of warranty?

 

[AtTheDriveIn]

32 mm

Thank you!!

$32?? I paid close to a hundred for one for a chevy lumina!

What brand are they? What kind of warranty?

Psht.... A no name with a year warranty. Honestly I'd be happy if I got a few months out of 'em until I can replace them with OEM ones. You don't need to do a lot of work to get the hubs off, all you have to do is take off the axle nut, the brake rotor, ABS wire and the 3 bolts that hold the hub onto the knuckle. Then just guide the hub off the axle. They're not rusted on as I passed the shop that it's at last night and the front end was apart so at least they freed up the bolts for me. $100 each for good quality hubs aren't bad either. I just wanted to go the cheap route for a few months here.

 

[Flash]

At least use the best grease you can on those bearings.

 

[Dave 1955]

At least use the best grease you can on those bearings.

How you going to grease sealed bearings?

 

[Flash]

How you going to grease sealed bearings?

With great difficulty.

 

[colintrax]

How you going to grease sealed bearings?

You've just never tried. It is possible

 

[drdoom]

Also the brake shield should be removed.

 

[bluestream1]

With great difficulty.

Thats funny!

 

[Flash]

You've just never tried. It is possible

My dirty secret is out. I've never seen an Explorer wheel bearing.
I was just going by every other wheel bearing I've ever seen, trust the Exp to be different.

I'd by assuming that the cheap bearings would have crap lubricant and that the application of decent lubricant would extend their life.
Some teflon or EP high temp greases I've seen should work.

Keeping in mind I haven't seen the actual bearing but I have seen sealed bearings in the past, how about carefully lifting the seal and squirting the lubricant in under it?

I've flushed and relubricated sealed bearings that way before.

 

[JimMadsen]

I think there is a sealed bearing grease gun on this site:

http://kalecoauto.com/

Thinking about getting the Seasonal Tire Air myself

 

[SoNic67]

^ That's funny

 

[shucker1]

I think there is a sealed bearing grease gun on this site:

http://kalecoauto.com/

Thinking about getting the Seasonal Tire Air myself

I am going to order a set of the high intensity road flares.